At least the intention was not medical, or such as might oblige unto conformity or imitation; For some we refrain which that Law alloweth, as Locusts and many others; and some it prohibiteth, which are accounted good meat in strict and Medical censure: as (beside many fishes which have not finns and scales,) the Swine, Cony and Hare, a dainty dish with the Ancients; as is delivered by _Galen_, testified by _Martial_ [SN: Inter quadrupedes mattya prima Lepus.], as the popular opinion implied, that men grew fair by the flesh thereof: by the diet of _Cato_, that is Hare and Cabbage; and the _Jus nigrum_, or Black broath of the _Spartans_, which was made with the blood and bowels of an Hare. And if we take a view of other Nations, we shall discover that they refrained many meats upon the like considerations. For in some the abstinence was symbolical; so _Pythagoras_ enjoyned abstinence from fish: that is, luxurious and dainty dishes; So according to _Herodotus_, some _Egyptians_ refrained swines flesh, as an impure and sordid animal: which whoever but touched, was fain to wash himself. Some abstained superstitiously or upon religious consideration: So the _Syrians_ refrained Fish and Pigeons; the _Egyptians_ of old, Dogs, Eeles and Crocodiles; though _Leo Africanus_ delivers, that many of late, do eat them with good gust: and _Herodotus_ also affirmeth, that the _Egyptians_ of _Elephantina_ (unto whom they were not sacred,) did eat thereof in elder times: and Writers testify, that they are eaten at this day in _India_ and _America_. And so, as _Cæsar_ reports, [SN: Lib. 3. de bello Gall.] unto the ancient _Britains_ it was piaculous to tast a Goose, which dish at present no table is without. Unto some Nations the abstinence was political and for some civil advantage: So the _Thessalians_ refrained Storks, because they destroyed their Serpents; and the like in sundry animals is observable in other Nations. And under all these considerations were some animals refrained: so the _Jews_ abstained from swine at first symbolically, as an Emblem of impurity; and not for fear of the Leprosie, as _Tacitus_ would put upon them. The _Cretians_ superstitiously, upon tradition that _Jupiter_ was suckled in that countrey by a Sow. Some _Egyptians_ politically, because they supplyed the labour of plowing by rooting up the ground. And upon like considerations perhaps the _Phœnicians_ and _Syrians_ fed not on this Animal: and as _Solinus_ reports, the _Arabians_ also and _Indians_. A great part of mankind refraining one of the best foods, and such as _Pythagoras_ himself would eat; who, as _Aristoxenus_ records [SN: _Aul. Gell._ lib. 4.], refused not to feed on Pigs. [Sidenote: _Certain dishes in great request with the Ancients, not so much esteemed now._]